Getting back on track for 2013 and beyond

brizzledfw

aaghh indeed..but also rather amusing!! (sorry;))

Like Canuck I have used lots of different types of childcare whilst working - sometimes local, sometimes national and part and full time. Lots of pros and cons about all types and my experience is that what works for the child/family changes over time, too.

We have always found au pairs good...ours have stayed for years. But we have paid top whack to we get a great experienced pool to choose from (and believe me with the economic crisis on, at the moment, there is a large pool!) and have been crystal clear about what we expect. But for babies..not sure. Au pairs wouldnt be my preference.

When we have that coffee in glorious sunny Brizzle we can discuss more!:j

kerri_dfw

Yay look forward to it just over two weeks and we'll be there.

Just back from OH's graduation, I was a very proud girlfriend by boy was it hot, hot, hot!!! We're going out for dindins tonight but his Mum is insisting on paying. I did have to stop the OH buying 2 bottles of whisky on our joint account though for his lecturers, he hasn't quite grasped the fact joint money is for joint things, whereas his money is for things he's doing solo. Oh well he'll learn I guess

brizzledfw

He will!!!!!!!!!!:D

Do drink lots of fluids...remember you are keeping 2 life systems going!

Especially take it easy on the actual move day..especially if its anywhere near this hot.

Hen weekend sounded ace. You need some fun you know, the point is it wasn't wasted money or a thoughtless spend so it was value. Simples.

kerri_dfw

My Dad has just phoned me to say that he has £4450 put aside for me in his bank account for when we have enough money for a deposit on a house saved. This is how much of my sisters debt he has paid off. I've put it onto my £12k in 2013 total in my signature. One more week until we move and hopefully I can clear some more debt whoop whoop.

C/tax want an extra £80 for the remainder of the payments on this place, not bad. Our new place is much cheaper on the old c/tax

kerri_dfw

Just about to order the food for OH's birthday picnic. I'm keeping it simple and doing lots of canapes I should add that this is a vegetarian spread as the OH is vegetarian. A meaty menu would have included sausage rolls and sausages on sticks and things. I'm trying to go for as healthy, homemade, and easy as possible. Needs to feed about 20ish people, but I'm not filling them up just providing something of interest to go with the beer they buy themselves We're going to sit on a patch of grass right by OH's favourite pub down in the Bay All dishes can be served cold too simples.

So we have:

Canapes:
• cheese & pineapple on sticks
• cucumber sandwiches
• carrot, peppers & cucumber sticks
• HM tortilla chips & pita crackers
• bruschetta
• pasta
• mini jacket potatos
• goats cheese & pepper wraps
• tomato & olive tarts
• Pisa mozzarella
• salad

Dips:
• HM hummus
• guacamole dip
• lemon thyme dip
• butterbean dip & cheese straws

Dessert:
• chocolate dipped fruit
• fruit kebab
• chocolate crispies
• strawberry cheesecake pots
• cake balls
• chocolate honeycomb mousse pots

kerri_dfw

I love my steam cleaner, what would have taken 1hr to deep clean our ensuite just took me 30mins. Although I have left the floor for now. Got all the dried on soap scum and limescale off in no time. Money well spent I say

My shopping yesterday was very un-MSE. It totalled £95! It includes Princess bunting and candles. It is our last weekend in Cardiff and signifies the end of an era for my OH so I wanted to make it as special as possible. Everyone is really touched with the menu I've put together, mostly all on sticks remember so easy peasy for non-chef me to make

Called up the house insurance today, new house takes our renewal from £500 down to £180. That means this year I can get both our bicycles insured with the money we save yay Car insurance was also reduced, and council tax, and rent (even if it's only £25 that's a weeks food shopping!)

Looking forward to moving, even if I need to pack majorly. Although OH is being very unsettled at the moment, he's quick to anger and I'm trying to cut him some slack but being an emotional, hormonal, pregnant lady I just end up in tears whoops.

Ooh more MSE, went for free dentist today scale & polish plus they filled the chip in my front right top tooth and filled the curve I put in the front left top tooth when I had a tongue piercing. My teeth now look lovely and straight again Just wish they were a little whiter now, but I'm told an off-white yellow is actually a natural colour for teeth. I don't even drink coffee. Ho hum. Saved £40ish there I think, not sure how much the fills would normally have cost but I expect it was band 2.

Right, I am going to go pack a box with some stuff. I need to cool down, cleaning is hot work

HappyNow

That picnic menu sounds fantastic. I'm a veggie and I LOVE LOVE LOVE when all the food is suitable for me without having to ask about everything. It's also eye-opening for the meat-eaters when they realise how good a veggie spread actually is.

Your finances sound great and good luck with the move - you'll soon be in there! x

kerri_dfw

Lovely to hear from you Happy, I must stop by your diary and catch up on what you have been up to

I'm amazed at all the yummy options there are for veggie food, I doubt we'll even notice. Although there is lots and lots of cheese mmm

Baby update - have just felt hiccups! I'm so excited, they lasted for about a minute. I kept checking my pulse to see if I was feeling my heartbeat, but it was much slower one beat to every 3 of mine. Right, to pack boxes (didn't actually do any yesterday) and clean more things I go

kerri_dfw

We're having a girl!!! I'm so excited

debtfreewannabe321

:beer::beer::beer:Team PINK :beer::beer::beer::beer:

p.s will you kindly stop telling me how good your steam cleaner is. I have mop envy now :eek::rotfl: it took me hours to get the limescale off our bathroom a month ago and it's traumatised me into never wanting to do it again :eek:

And agree the menu sounds yummy! :T